Switch face-plate and lock



H. KAPLAN. I

SWITCH FACE PLATE AND LQCK. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 14. 1916.

1,337, 1 37. Patented Apr. 13, 1920.

. f G FIE. Z

IN VEN TOR.

H. KAPLAN ITNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY KAPLAN, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

SWITCH FACE-PLATE AND LOCK.

Application filed December 14, 1916.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY KAPLAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco, State of California, have invented a new and useful Switch Face-Plate and Look, of which the following is a specification in such full and clear terms as will enable those skilled in the art to construct and use the same.

This invention relates to a face plate for electrical switches and its object is to produce a lock for such switches which will enable the key to be removed therefrom while the switch is in the connected position, the lock becoming effective immediately upon the turning of the switch to the neutral position.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for locking the screws holdingthe face plate in position so the face plate can be taken off only when the switch operating lever is turned to one side or the other of the neutral position.

Other objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawing in which the same reference numeral is applied to the same portion throughout, but I am aware that there may be many modifications thereof.

Figure 1 is front elevation of the complete device,

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the device as applied to a common form of switch block,

Fig. 3 is a back elevation of the front plate showing the means for locking the screws in place,

Fig. 4: is a vertical sectional view of the locking plate and switch block,

Fig. 5 is a back'elevation of the locking slide showing the slide in the position to lock the switch,

Fig. 6 is a back elevation of the lock showing the locking slide raised in position to release the switch, and

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view in edge elevation of the locking slide.

The numeral 1 indicates a suitable switch block of insulating material on Which the movable member 2 is secured by means of the post 2, a stud 3 forms an extension of said post, and has an operating lever 4. The movable member 2 carries suitable contact points as at 5, which engage other contacts on the block 1. The post 2 is provided with Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 13, 1920.

Serial No. 136,884.

wings 6 and 7 which afford the means for looking it in the desired position, and which engage lugs 6, 7 on the member 2 to turn it.

All of the foregoing parts are of a well known construction and form no part of the present invention. I

On the front of the block is a cover plate 8, the cover plate 8 is secured to the block by means of three screws 9, l0, and 11. The

two former screws have triangular shanks immediately under their heads, as indicated at 12, and the holes through which the screws pass are placed at such a distance with respect to the axis of the post 2 that the plate 14' revoluble with said post will ongage said triangular shanks and prevent the screws 9 and 10 from being turned except when the lever a is turned to the right or to the left. Mounted upon the cover plate 8 is a shallow casing 15 provided with flanges 16 and 17 for securing it to the plate 8. The flanges 16 and 17 may be secured either with rivets or by electric welding or any other process which will permanently secure the casing to the plate. The casing 15 carries a similar though deeper casing 18 in which the lock barrel 19 is mounted. The lock barrel is of a well known type having a plurality of tumblers movable in a side piece 20, and at its back it carries a cam 21 shaped like the letter D turned upon its side. Slidable in the casing 15 is a plate 22, the plate has an opening at its center to receive the D shaped cam 21, which latter is secured on the end of the lock barrel and adapted to turn therewith, and it has two ears 23 and 2% which embrace the upstanding portion 20 of the lock barrel in which the tumblers slide, the motion of the plate which also contacts with the sides of the casing 15 being thereby determined. A spring 25 engages the sides of the top of the casing 15 and tends to restore the plate 22 to the position shown in Fig. 5. When the key has been inserted in the lock and the lock turned the plate 22 is raised to the position shown in Fig. 6. As shown in Fig. 5 the plate 22 is engaged with the upper wing 7 of the post 3, while as shown in Fig. 6 the plate 22 is shown disengaged from the wing 7 thereby allowing the switch lever to be turned either to the right or to the left as may be desired, and at which points the screws 9 and 10 may be removed if it is desired so to do.

The advantage of the construction just outlined is that as soon as the switch lever has been turned to a position to connect its contact points the key may be removed from the lock by turning it back to the position in Fig. 5, whereupon the plate 22 will ride on the projection 7 without looking at it until the switch is turned off whereupon it will be automatically locked by dropping down so the notch therein will engage said projection 7.

The front plate 8 is provided with three ears 8, 8 and 8 to space it away from the base 1 the proper distance to receive the plate 14: under the ears 8 and 8".

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is as follows 1. The combination of a base, a revoluble stud carried thereby, a face plate, screws for securing the face plate to the base, means operated by the stud to engage the screws to prevent their rotation, and a' key operated lock to secure the stud in a given position.

2. The combination of a base, a cover plate therefor, a stud projecting through the cover plate, a lock carried by the cover plate to hold the stud in a given position, screws for holding the cover plate on the base, and means operated by the stud for engaging the screws and preventing them from. being rotated and removed when the stud is in a certain position.

The combination of a base, a front plate covering the base, an operating stud projecting through the plate, a key operated lock carried by the cover plate adapted to secure the stud in a fixed position at will, screws for securing the cover plate to the base, said screws having polygonal shanks and a movable plate operated by the stud to prevent the screws from being rotated when the stud is in a certain posit on.

4.. The combination of a base, a cover plate therefor, a stud projecting through the cover plate, a lock carried by the cover plate to hold the stud in a fixed position at will, screws for holding the cover plate on the base, and a plate movable with the stud and adapted to engage the shank of the screws to prevent them from being removed when the stud is in a certain position.

5. The combination of a base, a cover plate therefor, a lock supported by the cover plate, a stud projecting through the cover plate, a slidable plate adapted to lock the stud in a fixed position, and a D shaped cam carried by the lock for disengaging the slidable plate from the stud.

6. The combination of a base, a movable stud projecting therethrough, a plate, covering the base, and through which the stud projects, a slidable plate adapted to engage and hold the stud in a certain position, a lock carried by the cover plate, means carried by the lock to raise the slidable plate, and a spring for holding the slidable plate normally in engagement with the stud.

7. The combination of a base, a revolublc stud carried thereby, a front plate carried by the base and through which the stud pro jects, a key operated lock carried by the cover plate, a slidable plate operated by the lock to engage and hold the movable stud in a certain position, aspring engaging the slidable plate to hold it in contact with the stud, and means carried by the stud to prevent the removal of the cover plate from the base when the stud is in a certain position;

8. The combination of a base, a movable stud projecting therethrough, a plate covering the base, and through which the stud projects, a slidable plate having an opening therethrough and having a notch adapted to hold the stud in a certain position, a lock carried by the cover plate and a D shaped plate carried by the lock for raising the slidable plate at will.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 7th day of December, A. D.

1916. HENRY KAPLAN. 

